Revision as of 20:41, 16 April 2019

Basket of Air, Bamboo Garden, Hoyt Arboretum (bobcat)

Balch Creek (cfm)

Pittock Mansion (bobcat)

The Wildwood Trail route between the Hoyt Arboretum and Pittock Mansion (not a GPS track) (bobcat) Courtesy: Caltopo/MapBuilder Topo

• Start point: Hoyt Arboretum Trailhead
• End point: Pittock Mansion
• Trail Log:
• Hike Type: Out and back with loop
• Distance: 3.9 miles
• Elevation gain: 625 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• High point: 960 feet
• Seasons: All year
• Family Friendly: Yes
• Backpackable: No
• Crowded: Yes

Hike Description

Note: The Wildwood Trail between Pittock Mansion and the Hoyt Arboretum is closed until Fall 2019 so that a pedestrian bridge can be constructed over Burnside Road. Until then, this hike is closed.

This section of the Wildwood Trail connects two of Portland’s most visited sights: the stately Pittock Mansion and Hoyt Arboretum. You’ll enjoy a variety of conifers from all over the world at the Arboretum, and then cross busy Burnside Road to ascend the slope to historic Pittock Mansion, which exhibits an attractive garden and views to Mount Hood. The Burnside Road crossing is a touch-and-go dash, but funding has been secured for a safe bridge to avoid the speeding cars. Construction began in March 2019, and the bridge should be open to the public by the end of September 2019. It will be named the Barbara Walker Crossing after a tireless advocate for Portland parks who passed away in 2014.

From the Visitor Center at the Hoyt Arboretum, cross Fairview Boulevard, and descend the steps towards the Stevens Pavilion, a covered picnic area. Before reaching this shelter, go right on the Fir Trail and then left on the Spruce Trail. Pass by some Grecian firs, and cross Fischer Lane. Follow the Spruce Trail along a sword fern slope under a variety of spruces. Enter a clearing, and stay on the Spruce Trail above Bray Lane. Pass above a small field, the “Wedding Meadow”, and come to the junction with the Fir Loop. Go left here, and drop under red pines and redwood cultivars. Reach the Wildwood-Spruce Trail Junction, and make a left.

Switchback at the Redwood Deck in the Arboretum’s redwood/sequoia plantation, and then switchback again. Keep right at the junction with the Redwood Trail, and switchback down to the junction with the Creek Trail, Go right to cross the footbridge over Johnson Creek, and switchback up under western red-cedars. Keep right again to continue on the Wildwood Trail out of the Arboretum. The trail is level at first and then begins a descent along a trail cut dripping with licorice ferns. Reach Burnside Road, and wait for a break in the speeding traffic to sprint across Burnside (Construction on a safe footbridge crossing is due to begin in 2019.).

Traverse across a salal/sword fern slope, and then turn up a gully and hike under a graffitied wall bolstering a gravel, gated section of Verde Vista Terrace. The trail crosses the road and makes two switchbacks up the south slope of Pittock Hill, passing a large Douglas-fir. The unmarked trail to Valle Vista Terrace leads off to the right. Pass the 3 ½ mile marker on the Wildwood Trail, and switchback up to Pittock Drive. Go right to find a new section of trail that switchbacks up to the parking lot for Pittock Mansion.

Walk down to a restroom building and gift shop. There is a fee to tour the inside of the mansion, but it is free to stroll around the gardens designed by C.C. Colburn. Roses bloom in abundance from spring into fall. The eastern lawn provides spectacular views of downtown Portland and Mount Hood. Below Pittock Mansion is the Italianate-style four-story Gate Lodge, which first housed the Pittocks' chauffeur and his family. The Gate Lodge was a tea room for a number of years and is now being restored as a period museum.

On your return, you can take another path through the Arboretum. After you cross the footbridge over Johnson Creek, keep left on the Wildwood, and then go right on the Redwood Trail. Stay on the Redwood Trail until you reach the junction for Bray Lane. Go left here, and switchback up to cross Fischer Lane. You can go right to admire the bamboo garden and the Basket of Air sculpture by Ivan Maclean. Then head up the hill to the Stevens Pavilion and your car.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder
• Hoyt Arboretum Trail Map (Hoyt Arboretum)
• Green Trails Maps: Forest Park, Hoyt Arboretum, Washington Park #426S
• Northwest Portland Bike/Walk Map (Portland Bureau of Transportation)

Regulations or Restrictions, etc.

• Parking fee
• Dogs on leash
• No bicycles on trails
• Hoyt Arboretum open 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday; 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday
• Pittock Mansion: $12 admission for adults
• Pittock Mansion hours: Closed in January; Open daily 10 - 4 February through May, 10 - 5 June - Labor Day, 10 - 4 September through December; Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Arboretum to Pittock Mansion Hike

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Arboretum to Pittock Mansion Hike

Guidebooks that cover this hike

• One City's Wilderness: Portland's Forest Park by Marcy Cottrell Houle
• Portland Townscape Walks #1 by Tyler Burgess

More Links

• Washington Park (Oregon Adventures)
• Hoyt Arboretum to Pittock Mansion (Access Trails)
• Hoyt Arboretum (Hoyt Arboretum Friends)
• Hoyt Arboretum (Portland Parks)
• Hoyt Arboretum (Northwest Oregon Conifers)
• Wildwood Trail: Start to Finish (OSU Press)
• Wildwood Trail (Outdoor Project)
• Wildwood Trail - National Recreation Trail (Hiking Project)
• Hiking Portland's Wildwood Trail In 5 Parts (OPB)
• Footbridge Over Burnside (Portland Parks Foundation)
• Wildwood Trail Pedestrian Bridge Over Burnside (pff)
• Pittock Mansion

Contributors

• bobcat (creator)